Newcastle boss Alan Pardew frustrated by disallowed goals

15 February 2013 07:17

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Alan Pardew was left to bemoan two disallowed goals as Newcastle were denied a Europa League victory over Metalist Kharkiv in controversial style.

Striker Papiss Cisse saw efforts chalked off either side of half-time - with replays suggesting both decisions might have been wrong - to send the Ukrainian side into the second leg with a slight advantage.

Pardew said: "Both 'goals' were goals. When you see the replays, you can see that."

He added: "The first one, I have to say, I was a little bit undecided from where I stood, but the second one I thought was a definite goal, so that was tough to take because in these games, those margins are the difference.

"The benefit on those lines is for the striker, that's the rule, and both decisions were level.

"He [Cisse] could have two goals to his name as well if the decisions had gone his way.

"When you get decisions like that going against you, it puts fire in your belly. We came off the pitch very, very disappointed with those decisions and we are going to take that into the second leg."

The unfortunate Cisse also passed up a series of other opportunities to give the Magpies a lead to take to Ukraine next week, the last of them a stoppage-time header from point-blank range.

However, Pardew refused to concede that Metalist will go into the return with the upper hand, although he knows his side will have to produce a performance of real character to progress.

He said: "No, I don't think they do. Looking at the game, it was a very even game - but it will be a different game in their stadium and a different agenda. They need to come and beat us and the way we defended tonight were organised and the pace in the team suggests to me that it's very, very exciting, and I think the second leg will be the same."